Officer, Development (Foundation)

Southlake Foundation; Newmarket; Hybrid; CAD 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental benefits

HOOPP pension plan

Wellness initiatives and on-site gym

Job summary

Southlake Health Foundation seeks a Development Officer to manage and grow a donor portfolio that supports the hospital foundation’s mission. You will cultivate, solicit, and steward leadership level donors, advancing prospects toward major and planned gift readiness, strengthening enduring philanthropic relationships.

The role leads the Bridge Donor Program and Foundations Program, ensuring strategic engagement, timely reporting, and meaningful stewardship for individual and institutional

Qualifications

• Post-secondary degree.
• 3–5 years of fundraising experience; healthcare philanthropy is a plus.
• Proven success in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and rapport.
• Experience with CRM systems; Raiser’s Edge considered an asset.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and work independently and collaboratively.
• Proficiency in Excel and Word.

Responsibilities

• Hold a donor portfolio of approximately 150–200 prospects giving $5K–$25K.
• Develop and strengthen relationships with donors through tailored cultivation and stewardship strategies.
• Conduct regular donor meetings, calls, and touchpoints to deepen engagement.
• Collaborate with Major Gifts, Annual Giving, and Donor Experience to move donors through the pipeline.
• Support donor events, tours, and recognition activities as needed.
• Work with the Stewardship team to communicate donor impact through reports and recognition.
• Ensure all donor interactions are recorded accurately in the CRM.

Skills

Donor cultivation

Solicitation

Stewardship

CRM systems

Raiser’s Edge

Communication

Relationship building

Time management

Education

Post-secondary degree

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

Job description

Job Category: Foundation Hospital Location: Newmarket ON Job Type: Permanent, Full time Number of Positions: 1 Minimum - Maximum Hourly Rate: $30.77 - $42.05

Why Join Our Team?

Hybrid, virtual, and in-person working environment (where applicable).

• Progressive health and dental benefit plans.
• HOOPP pension plan with employer and employee premium sharing.
• Enhanced wellness initiatives, including virtual fitness classes and on-site gym memberships.

The Development Officer is responsible for managing and growing a portfolio of donors giving $5,000–$25,000 in support of the Hospital Foundation’s mission.

This role plays a key part in the donor pipeline by cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding leadership level donors, advancing prospects toward major and planned gift readiness, and strengthening long-term philanthropic relationships.

The Development Officer leads the execution of the Foundation’s Bridge Donor Program and Foundations Program, ensuring strategic engagement, timely reporting, and meaningful stewardship for both individual and institutional funders.

Team

The Major Gifts & Campaigns Team plays a critical role in cultivating and building relationships to drive sustainable growth from donors and prospects at $5K+ to enable the Foundation to meet granting commitments to Southlake Health to deliver leading edge care close to home.

ACCOUNTABILITIES & ACTIVITIES

• Donor Portfolio Manage a portfolio of approximately 150–200 gift prospects giving $5K–$25K.
• Develop, build and strengthen relationships with donors through individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Conduct regular donor meetings, calls, and touchpoints to deepen engagement, retention, and advance giving.
• Collaborate with colleagues in Major Gifts, Annual Giving, and Donor Experience to ensure seamless donor movement through the pipeline.
• Support donor events, tours, and recognition activities as needed.
• Work with the Stewardship team to communicate donors’ impact of giving through the delivery of impact and stewardship reports and recognition opportunities.
• Ensure all donor interactions are recorded accurately and promptly in the CRM.

Bridge Donor Program

In collaboration with the Director, lead the planning, execution, and evaluation of the Foundation’s Bridge Donor Program, designed to transition mid‑level donors toward major gift readiness. Implement tailored engagement plans, including cultivation activities, solicitations, impact communications, recognition, stewardship. and targeted cultivation activities. Track donor movement and identify prospects with major or planned gift potential.

Foundations Program

Manage relationships with private, family, corporate and community foundations up to investment levels of $250K. Research funding opportunities and in collaboration with Writer, Major Gifts, prepare compelling letters of inquiry and proposals. Maintain a calendar of deadlines, deliverables, and reporting requirements to ensure compliance and strong funder relationships. In collaboration with Donor Experience, deliver meaningful recognition and stewardship. Contribute to annual planning, revenue forecasting, and pipeline development. Represent the Foundation at community events and donor engagements.

Foundation Team

Work as a team player actively promoting a positive and professional work environment and culture Conduct role with integrity and respect and with a focus on demonstrating the Foundation’s values Act as an ambassador throughout the community, positively representing the Hospital and the Foundation Maintain donor and Foundation confidentiality and privacy at all times Demonstrate a commitment to exceptional donor experience Abide by the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and work in a manner that is safe, reporting incidents immediately to direct supervisor Adhere to the policies and procedures of Southlake Health and Southlake Health Foundation Perform other duties as assigned in order to meet the overall goals and objectives of the Foundation Maintain and advance professional knowledge of and expertise in relevant fields Develop and be able to communicate a strong understanding of Southlake’s and the Foundation’s strategic priorities and exemplify Southlake’s shared values: Serving with purpose Always with compassion Power of many Every voice matters Courage to think differently

TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Post‑secondary degree.
• Minimum 3–5 years of fundraising experience, previous experience in healthcare philanthropy an asset.
• Demonstrated success in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and rapport.
• Experience with CRM systems, Raiser’s Edge considered an asset.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and work both independently and collaboratively.
• Proficient in the use of corporate productivity tools including Excel and Word.
• Excellent problem solving, written and verbal communications and project management skills.
• Positive attitude, ability to work effectively with multiple deadlines, and in a fast‑paced environment with shifting priorities.
• Excellent organizational, planning and time management skills.
• Proven ability to build and sustain strong working relationships with colleagues and key stakeholders at all levels; capable of exercising independent judgment and flexibility.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends.

Southlake Health is fully committed to a culture of belonging and an inclusive environment that encourages every team member to lead within their role, generate innovative ideas that reinforce our mission and goal to create a healthy workplace where our community can thrive. Regular and reliable attendance is an expected requirement of this position.

We are committed to a selection process and work environment that is inclusive and barrier‑free.

Accommodation will be provided in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code. Applicants who may require accommodation during the selection process are encouraged to notify the Human Resources Department when contacted for an interview.

The People, Culture and Experience team will work together with the hiring committee to arrange reasonable and appropriate accommodation for the selection process, which will enable you to be assessed fairly and equitably.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

We prioritize a people-first workplace culture which emphasizes equity and inclusion throughout our hiring process. To ensure fairness and transparency, all applications are reviewed and assessed by our dedicated team of recruiters and hiring managers, not by artificial intelligence (AI). We value the unique perspective each candidate brings to our organization.

Health & Safety Workplace Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of all Southlake Health employees to work safely and promote health and safety in the workplace. Employees must adhere to the duties of workers, as stipulated in Section 28 of the OH&S Act, as well as all Southlake OH&S policies and procedures. Must be able to perform all necessary bona fide duties for the position, as outlined in the position guide. Must review and be capable of performing duties as outlined in the Job Demands Analysis for the position as a condition of offer. Proven ability to attend work regularly as per the Attendance Support Policy. Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion Southlake Health is fully dedicated to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion in our recruitment practices. We welcome candidates who identify with equity‑seeking groups, including women, racialized individuals, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and those from the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Any information provided will be kept confidential and used appropriately in our recruitment process. Anti‑Oppression/Anti‑Racism at Southlake Health Southlake Health is committed to having a workforce that is reflective of the diversity of York Region and strongly encourages applications from all qualified individuals, and from those who can provide different perspectives and contribute to a further diversification of ideas.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

We welcome candidates who identify with equity‑seeking groups, including women, racialized individuals, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and those from the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Our Culture

Are you ready to build a meaningful career where you and your work truly make a difference? Join us at Southlake Health, where you’ll collaborate with compassionate, motivated professionals who are committed to caring for our communities every day. We’re proud to be recognized as one of Greater Toronto's Top Employers for 2026, one of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures for 2025, and one of the World’s Best Hospitals for seven years in a row – recognitions that reflect the strength of our people and our workplace culture. For over 100 years, Southlake Health has been dedicated to building healthy communities through innovative care. While many things have changed over the years, our unwavering pride in our people, place, and performance has stood the test of time. With a passionate family of 6,000 medical professionals, staff, volunteers, and students, we work together every day to deliver exceptional care close to home. We are here for everyone who walks through our doors, no matter where they are in their life journey. Our commitment extends beyond our walls, reaching every community we serve. Driven by our heartfelt dedication, we believe that everyone deserves the best care and the best experience. As we look to the future, our vision remains clear: to grow alongside our communities. This vision is anchored in our commitment to put people first—pushing boundaries and embracing the latest medical advancements while ensuring we meet individuals where they are in life.